Argentine champion Lucas Matthysse is now working with top cornerman Joel Diaz in Southern California to bring about Manny Pacquiao?s downfall on July 15 in Malaysia.
Ten weeks before risking the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown for the first time, Matthysse is already heavily immersed in camp, according to Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).
GBP, owned by Oscar De La Hoya, promotes Matthysse, who meets Pacquiao in a scheduled 12-rounder at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
Matthysse, 35, didn?t waste time dilly-dallying upon his return from a whirlwind promotional tour of his Pacquiao showdown in Manila and Kuala Lumpur last month.
Even before he traveled to Asia from his hometown in Chubut, 1,350 kilometrs from the capital of Buenos Aires, Matthysse had started working out, accoridng to his manager Mario Arano.
As Matthysse grinds it out in Indio, California, under the guidance of Diaz, Pacquiao has also entered training mode and the 39-year-old eight-division champion actually began running last week and showed up in the gym in General Santos City last Monday.
Pacquiao said he needs ten weeks of training?adding an extra two weeks from his usual eight?owing to the threat that the heavy-handed Matthysse poses to his career.
?I need to win convincingly as the result of this fight will determine my future in boxing,? he said.
